The Criterion for Movements That Invalidate the Prayer
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Question:
Our brother asks and says: A man is praying and he makes three consecutive movements, such as scratching his head or his nose, or something similar. Does this invalidate his prayer?
Answer:
There is no evidence for this, and the prayer is not invalidated by it. However, the believer should strive to remain still in prayer, to be humble, and to avoid fidgeting and movement, except out of necessity, while keeping the movements few and not excessive. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that excessive consecutive movements in prayer invalidate it, without specifying a number.
As for specifying the number as three, that is a weak opinion with no evidence for it, and the prayer is not invalidated by it. So if he moves his hand three times, or scratches his head three times, or does something similar, his prayer is not invalidated by it. Likewise, if the movements are scattered, they do not invalidate the prayer.
It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed on the pulpit, then descended and prostrated at the base of the pulpit, then ascended and recited on the pulpit, and bowed on it. When he finished the prayer, he said:Sahih Muslim 544a It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him): “He prayed while carrying Umamah, the daughter of Zaynab, the daughter of his daughter Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her). When he prostrated, he put her down, and when he stood up, he carried her” (peace and blessings be upon him). This movement did not invalidate the prayer because it was scattered.
Likewise, it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in the eclipse prayer that when Paradise was shown to him, he moved forward and the rows moved forward, and he tried to take a bunch of grapes from it, but it was not possible for him to do so. And when the Fire was shown to him (peace and blessings be upon him), he moved backward and the rows moved backward. This indicates that this movement and similar ones do not invalidate the prayer. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Our brother asks and says: A man is praying and he makes three consecutive movements, such as scratching his head or his nose, or something similar. Does this invalidate his prayer?
Answer:
There is no evidence for this, and the prayer is not invalidated by it. However, the believer should strive to remain still in prayer, to be humble, and to avoid fidgeting and movement, except out of necessity, while keeping the movements few and not excessive. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that excessive consecutive movements in prayer invalidate it, without specifying a number.
As for specifying the number as three, that is a weak opinion with no evidence for it, and the prayer is not invalidated by it. So if he moves his hand three times, or scratches his head three times, or does something similar, his prayer is not invalidated by it. Likewise, if the movements are scattered, they do not invalidate the prayer.
It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed on the pulpit, then descended and prostrated at the base of the pulpit, then ascended and recited on the pulpit, and bowed on it. When he finished the prayer, he said:
I have done it so that you should follow me and learn (my mode of) prayer.
إنما فعلت هذا لتأتموا بي؛ ولتعلموا صلاتيLikewise, it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in the eclipse prayer that when Paradise was shown to him, he moved forward and the rows moved forward, and he tried to take a bunch of grapes from it, but it was not possible for him to do so. And when the Fire was shown to him (peace and blessings be upon him), he moved backward and the rows moved backward. This indicates that this movement and similar ones do not invalidate the prayer. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.